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Health-related quality of life problems of children aged 8-11 years with a chronic disease

M A Grootenhuis1, H M Koopman, E G H Verrips

  • 1Psychosocial Department, Emma Children's Hospital/Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. m.a.grootenhuis@amc.uva.nl

Developmental Neurorehabilitation
|July 5, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Health-Related Quality-of-Life (HRQoL) problems are more prevalent in children with chronic diseases than in healthy peers. Identifying at-risk children using the 25th percentile norm is crucial for targeted interventions.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health Outcomes
  • Chronic Disease Management
  • Quality of Life Research

Background:

  • Health-Related Quality-of-Life (HRQoL) is increasingly recognized as a critical outcome in pediatric research.
  • Understanding HRQoL challenges in children with chronic conditions is essential for comprehensive care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the nature and prevalence of HRQoL issues in children with various chronic diseases.
  • To compare HRQoL scores in chronically ill children against a healthy population.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 318 children aged 8-11 years with diverse chronic conditions participated.
  • The validated TNO-AZL Children's Quality of Life questionnaire (TACQoL) was administered.
  • Statistical analyses compared HRQoL scores between patient groups and a norm population, using the 25th percentile to define risk.

Main Results:

  • Few significant differences in mean HRQoL scores were observed between chronically ill children and healthy controls.
  • However, the prevalence of children at risk for substantial HRQoL problems was notably higher across several domains in the chronic disease group.
  • The 25th percentile threshold effectively identified a greater proportion of children with chronic conditions experiencing HRQoL difficulties.

Conclusions:

  • While average HRQoL scores may not drastically differ, a higher prevalence of significant HRQoL problems exists in children with chronic diseases.
  • Utilizing the 25th percentile of norm data is a valuable indicator for identifying children with chronic conditions who are at risk for substantial HRQoL problems.
  • This approach aids in targeted support and intervention for vulnerable pediatric populations.

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